we look to find the answer to solve the problem on the spending issue here in washington. the president is not yet there, he has not come to where he needs to be in order for us to push through a bill that really does begin to address the problem. and as the speaker said, that's why we are now discussing and alternative plan if the president and the white house cannot come our way. thank you. >> as the speaker and the leader said, we've been trying to make sure we do not go off this fiscal cliff. while at the same time put america on a different path, one for job creation, one that also takes care of our spending. i think many times the speaker felt that maybe he was negotiating with himself. after plan, after plan where the president stayed silent. those three weeks right after the election when the first idea was sent across from the president to the speaker we heard nothing but silence. unfortunately today we are going to have to go to plan b. because we want to make sure we do not go off the cliff and we want to make sure that we keep an economy where jobs can be creat